Mobile communication system, mobile communication method and mobile communication program

ABSTRACT

To receive content services from a content server accepted in an Internet via a GW (GateWay) unit by a mobile user terminal connected to a mobile communication network, a plurality of GW units are located in respective predetermined areas. A part of radio communication base stations to be the mobile communication network connects an access request to the content server accepted in the Internet with a predetermined GW unit. When the mobile user terminal moves from a first area to a second area, roaming service is executed among the radio communication base stations in the mobile communication network, the mobile user terminal is connected to a second GW unit, an inquiry is issued to another GW unit, roaming service is executed among GW units, and thereby content services are continued for the moving mobile user terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system forproviding contents to a mobile communication terminal, and moreparticularly to the mobile communication system suitable to providecontents to the mobile communication terminal which moves in a widearea, and a mobile communication method and a mobile communicationprogram used in the mobile communication system.

The present application claims priority of Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2000-096337 filed on Mar. 31, 2000, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

2. Description of Related Art

As an integration technique, a packaging technique, a communicationtechnique and a like advance, it is possible for a mobile user terminalas a mobile communication terminal having a radio communicationfunction, such as a cellular telephone to access various servers in theInternet in which computer networks are connected one another. As aresult, a user of the mobile user terminal can not only transmit andreceive an electronic mail but also browse information such ascharacters and images of content data obtained from various serversusing a display section of the mobile user terminal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a mobile communicationsystem for browsing contents in the Internet using a mobile userterminal 10. When the mobile user terminal 10 is a cellular telephone,the mobile user terminal (cellular telephone) 10 is connected to a GW(Gate Way) unit 13 via a mobile communication network 11 which is acellular telephone network. The GW unit 13 is connected to an Internet12. The Internet 12 accepts a plurality of content servers 14 storingcontent data of various data formats such as characters and images, andit is possible to identify the content servers 14 with addresses whichare individually given to the content servers 14.

In this mobile communication system, an access request from the mobileuser terminal 10 to the content server 14 is transmitted to the GW unit13 via the mobile communication network 11. With the mobile userterminal 10, the access request is given so as to designate an addressfor identifying the content server 14 in the Internet 12. The GW unit 13executes a protocol conversion and a like between the mobilecommunication network 11 and the Internet 12 and transmits the accessrequest to the content server 14 via the Internet 12. The content server14 takes designated content data from various previously stored contentdata in accordance with the received access request and transmits thedesignated content data to the GW unit 13 via the Internet 12. The GWunit 13 executes the protocol conversion and a like and transmits thedesignated content data via the mobile communication network 11 to themobile user terminal 10 which requires to obtain content data. Themobile user terminal 10, for example, displays the content dataincluding image data on a display screen in accordance with a dataformat of the received content data.

Now, concerning the mobile communication network 11 in the conventionalmobile communication system shown in FIG. 7, generally, a mobilecommunication service area includes a plurality of small areas, a radiocommunication base station 15 is located in each small area, and therebya wide service area such as a cellular telephone network is carried out.When the mobile user terminal 10 moves from the radio communication basestation 15 area to an adjacent area, the mobile user terminal 10 keeps acommunication connection with another terminal by roaming servicebetween the radio communication base stations 15 without disconnection.Generally, the “roaming service” is a meaning that a mobile userterminal 10 communicates in an area of a common carrier with which nocontract is made, however, hereafter, the roaming service includes thatinformation necessary for communication is received and transmittedregardless of a contract.

When the mobile user terminal 10 issues an access request to the contentserver 14, the mobile user terminal 10 exists in an area of the radiocommunication base station 15 which manages a first area in the mobilecommunication network 11. Then, when it is assumed that the mobile userterminal 10 moves from the first area to a second area by movement 16,the mobile user terminal 10 is connected to a radio communication basestation 17 which manages the second area in the mobile communicationnetwork 11 by the execution of the roaming service. At this time,roaming information as communication information necessary forcommunication with the content server 14 is transferred from the radiocommunication base station 15 managing the first area to the radiocommunication base station 17 managing the second area. Therefore, it ispossible for the mobile user terminal 10 to keep the communicationconnection with the content server 14 via the GW unit 13 by theexecution of the roaming service.

As described above, in the conventional communication system, though theroaming service between radio communication base stations 15, 17 in themobile communication network 11 is executed, connection of the GW unit13 is kept in a case in that the mobile user terminal 10 receivescontent services from the content server 14. Therefore, though themobile user terminal 10 moves geographically between two places at along distance, a service is executed via the GW unit 13 first accessed.

However, a moving time is shorten by advances of locomotion, a caseincreases in that content services are provided while connecting withthe mobile communication network 11 having a very wide area. In thiscase, when the mobile user terminal 10 connects with the GW unit 13first accessed, a long distance communication is executed by the roamingservice in the mobile communication network 11. When a network becomeslarge and a number of mobile user terminals 10 increases, a frequency oflong distance communications for connection with the GW unit 13 in themobile communication network 11 increases. Therefore, there are problemsin that a throughput of the mobile communication network 11 deterioratesand a communication cost of the mobile user terminal 10 increases.

Also, though a plurality of GW units 13 are provided by increment ofcontent service users, in a case that the mobile user terminal 10 movesand connects with a GW unit 13 which is firstly accessed, there areproblems in that use efficiency of the GW unit 13 lowers and it isimpossible to provide stable services.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a mobile communication system capable of providing contentservices to a user service effectively and to provide and a mobilecommunication method and a mobile communication program used in themobile communication system.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda mobile communication system including:

-   -   a content server for providing content data requested via a        network;    -   a mobile communication terminal for issuing a request to provide        the content data via a mobile communication network; and    -   a plurality of gateway units located respectively in        predetermined areas, for executing protocol conversion of the        request and the content data transmitted between the network and        the mobile communication network and for continuously providing        the content data from the content server to the mobile        communication terminal by transmitting and receiving        communication information to provide the content data.

In the foregoing, a preferable mode is one wherein each of the pluralityof gateway units includes a service management information storingsection for storing service management information including at leastidentification information of the content data so as to correspond toidentification information of the mobile communication terminal to whichthe content data is provided via each of the plurality of gateway units,an inquiry section, when the request is received from the mobilecommunication terminal, for inquiring of each of other gateway unitswhether the identification information of the mobile communicationterminal is registered in the service management information storingsection using the identification information as a search key, a searchsection for searching said service management information in response toan inquiry from said inquiry section of an arbitrary one of othergateway units, a communication information transmitting section, whenthe identification information of the mobile communication terminal issearched by the search section, for transmitting communicationinformation used to provide the content data to the identificationinformation of the mobile communication terminal to the gateway unitwhich has issued the inquiry, a content request section for requestingthe content server to provide the content data corresponding to therequest based on the communication information transmitted by thecommunication information transmitting section of each of said othergateway units in accordance with the inquiry from the inquiry sectionand a content transferring section for transferring the content datafrom the content server, the content data requested by the contentrequest section to the mobile communication terminal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda mobile communication system including:

-   -   a mobile communication terminal for issuing a request to provide        the content data via a mobile communication network;    -   a plurality of gateway units, each of gateway units located        respectively in predetermined areas and including a protocol        conversion section for executing protocol conversion of the        request and the content data transmitted between a predetermined        network and the mobile communication network, a request relay        section for relaying the request and a terminal providing        section for providing the content data to the mobile        communication terminal in accordance with the request relayed by        the request relay section; and    -   a content server for providing the content data to a gateway        unit issuing the request relayed by the request relay section        via the predetermined network.

In the foregoing, a preferable mode is one wherein the mobilecommunication network includes a plurality of radio communication basestations, each of the radio communication base stations which cover anarea smaller than each of the predetermined areas and communicate oneanother, and at least one of the plurality of radio communication basestations transmits the request to a predetermined gateway unit among theplurality of gateway units.

-   -   the mobile communication network includes a plurality of radio        communication base stations, each of the radio communication        base stations which cover an area smaller than each of the        predetermined areas and communicate one another, and at least        one of the plurality of radio communication base stations        transmits the request to a predetermined gateway unit among the        plurality of gateway units.

Also, a preferable mode is one wherein the request is transmitted to agateway unit geographically nearest to the mobile communicationterminal.

Furthermore, a preferable mode is one wherein the mobile communicationterminal is a cellular telephone and the identification information ofthe mobile communication terminal is a telephone number.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda mobile communication method in a mobile communication system includinga content server for providing content data requested via a network; amobile communication terminal for issuing a request to provide thecontent data via a mobile communication network; and a plurality ofgateway units located respectively in predetermined areas, for executingprotocol conversion of the request and the content data transmittedbetween the network and the mobile communication network and forcontinuously providing the content data from the content server to themobile communication terminal by transmitting and receivingcommunication information to provide the content data, the mobilecommunication method including:

-   -   a service management information storing step of storing service        management information including identification information of        the content data so as to correspond to identification        information of the mobile communication terminal to which the        content data is provided via each of the plurality of gateway        units, the service management information is registered in a        service management information storing section;    -   an inquiry step, when the request is received from the mobile        communication terminal, of inquiring of each of other gateway        units whether the identification information of the mobile        communication terminal is registered in the service management        information storing section using the identification information        as a search key;    -   a search step of searching service management information of the        each of the plurality of gateway units in response to an inquiry        from an arbitrary one of other gateway units;    -   a communication information transmitting step, when the        identification information of the mobile communication terminal        is searched by the search step, of transmitting communication        information used to provide content data to the identification        information of the mobile communication terminal to the gateway        unit issuing the inquiry;    -   a content request step of requesting the content server to        provide the content data corresponding to the request based on        the communication information transmitted by the communication        information transmitting step in each of said other gateway        units in accordance with the inquiry section; and    -   a content transferring step of transferring the content data        from the content server to the mobile communication terminal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda mobile communication program used in a mobile communication systemincluding a content server for providing content data requested via anetwork; a mobile communication terminal for issuing a request toprovide the content data via a mobile communication network; and aplurality of gateway units located respectively in predetermined areas,for executing protocol conversion of the request and the content datatransmitted between the network and the mobile communication network andfor continuously providing the content data from the content server tothe mobile communication terminal by transmitting and receivingcommunication information to provide the content data, the mobilecommunication program including:

-   -   a service management information storing step of storing service        management information including identification information of        the content data so as to correspond to identification        information of the mobile communication terminal to which the        content data is provided via each of the plurality of gateway        units, the service management information is registered in a        service management information storing section;    -   an inquiry step, when the request is received from the mobile        communication terminal, of inquiring of each of other gateway        units whether the identification information of the mobile        communication terminal is registered in the service management        information storing section using the identification information        as a search key;    -   a search step of searching service management information of the        each of the plurality of gateway units in response to an inquiry        from an arbitrary one of other gateway units;    -   a communication information transmitting step, when the        identification information of the mobile communication terminal        is searched by the search step, of transmitting communication        information used to provide content data to the identification        information of the mobile communication terminal to the gateway        unit issuing the inquiry;    -   a content request step of requesting the content server to        provide the content data corresponding to the request based on        the communication information transmitted by the communication        information transmitting step in each of the other gateway units        in accordance with the inquiry section; and    -   a content transferring step of transferring the content data        from the content server to the mobile communication terminal.

With the above configurations, in the mobile communication system forproviding the content data to the mobile communication terminal from thecontent server via the network, each gateway unit is located in eachpredetermined area. Each gateway unit executes protocol conversion ofthe request so as to provide content data from the mobile communicationterminal and the content data from the content server, which aretransmitted between the network and the mobile communication network,and continues to provide the content data to the mobile communicationterminal by receiving and transmitting communication information forproviding content data to each other.

Also, the gateway unit stores the service management information inwhich identification information of the content data is stored so as tobe corresponded to identification information of the mobilecommunication terminal to which the content data is provided via thegateway unit. Then, when the request of the content data is receivedfrom the mobile communication terminal, each of other gateway units isinquired about whether the identification information of the mobilecommunication terminal is registered or not using the identificationinformation of the mobile communication terminal as a search key. Whenthe identification information of the mobile communication terminal isinquired from the other GW unit, its service management information issearched using identification information of an inquired mobilecommunication terminal as a search key. When a desired mobilecommunication terminal is registered, communication information forproviding content data to the identification information of the mobilecommunication terminal is transmitted to the gateway unit which hasissued the inquiry. The gateway unit requested by the mobilecommunication terminal relays communication information necessary toprovide content data from the other gateway unit, requests the contentserver to provide the content data corresponding to the request to thecontent server based on the communication information and provides therequested content data to the mobile communication terminal.

Also, in a mobile communication system for providing content data to amobile communication terminal by a content server via a network, each ofgateway units is located in each predetermined areas. The gateway unitexecutes protocol conversion of the request and the content datatransmitted between a network and the communication network, and therequest of content data and the corresponding content data are relayed.The content server receives the content data request relayed by eachgateway unit and provides content data to the gateway unit issuing therequest via the network.

Also, concerning at least a radio communication base station among theplurality of radio communication base stations to be mobilecommunication network, the request of the content data is transmitted toone of predetermined gateway units. With this operation, though themobile communication terminal moves between two places at a very longdistance, it is possible to provide a service quality and billingefficiently.

Also, the request is transmitted to a gateway unit geographicallynearest to the mobile communication terminal.

Also, it is possible to provide content services such as a cellulartelephone system and a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) system usingexisting mobile communication terminals generally used and it ispossible to provide services efficiently.

Also, though the mobile communication terminal moves two places at avery long distance, it is unnecessary to receive content services whilethe mobile communication terminal connects with a gateway unit which isfirstly accessed, and therefore, it is possible to improve systemefficiency and to provide stable services.

Also, since service management information is stored in each gatewayunit, an inquiry process can be simplified about an existence of roaminginformation as communication information necessary for content servicesprovided to each mobile communication terminal among gateway units.

Also, it is unnecessary to provide a communication line necessary fortransmitting and receiving the roaming information among gateway units,and it is possible to reduce infrastructure costs.

Also, though the mobile communication terminal moves two places at avery long distance, it is possible to improve system efficiency and toprovide stable services. Particularly, it is possible to reducecommunication costs when the mobile communication terminal moves twoplaces while communicating.

Furthermore, it is possible to use existing mobile communicationterminals which are generally used, the mobile communication terminalscapable of providing content services such as a cellular telephonesystem and a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) system and it ispossible to provide services efficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, advantages, and features of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a mobile communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing service providing managementinformation held by a gateway unit according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing content service information heldby the gateway unit according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an inquiry process for carrying outroaming service with the gateway unit according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processes of the gateway unit when thereis an inquiry from another gateway unit;

FIG. 6 is a sequential view showing an example of an operation of themobile communication system according to the embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional mobilecommunication system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Best modes for carrying out the present invention will be described infurther detail using an embodiment with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a mobile communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention. In themobile communication system, a mobile user terminal 20 having a radiocommunication function as a mobile communication client is connected toan Internet 22 via a mobile communication network 21. For example, acellular telephone is used as the mobile user terminal 20 and a cellulartelephone network is used as the mobile communication network 21. Themobile communication network 21 is connected with GW (GateWay) unitslocated in respective areas which are previously divided, and acommunication connection is executed between the mobile communicationnetwork 21 and the Internet 22 via these GW units. In the mobilecommunication system of the embodiment, it is assumed that a first GWunit 23 ₁ is located in a first area (shown in FIG. 1) and a second GWunit 23 ₂ is located in a second area(shown in FIG. 1).

The Internet 22 accepts a plurality of content servers for storingcontent data of various data formats such as characters and images, andeach of the content servers can be identified by each address which ispeculiarly given to each content server. In the embodiment, the Internet22 is connected with a content server 24 as one of these contentservers.

The mobile communication network 21 is provided with a plurality ofradio communication base stations 25 ₁, 25 ₂, . . . , 25 _(N-3), 25_(N-2), 25 _(N-1), 25 _(N). Each of the radio communication base station25 ₁ to radio communication base station 25 _(N) manages communicationof the mobile user terminal 20 in an area smaller than the first area orthe second area, and thereby it is possible to cover a wide mobilecommunication service area of the mobile communication network 21. Also,when the mobile user terminal 20 moves, roaming service is executed fromone of the radio communication base station 25 ₁ to radio communicationbase station 25 _(N) to another, and thereby it is possible to maintainmobile communication of the mobile user terminal 20.

A group of the radio communication base station 25 ₁ to radiocommunication base station 25 _(N) in the mobile communication network21 transmits an access request to various content servers accepted inthe Internet 22 to a predetermined GW unit. In this embodiment, amongthe radio communication base station 25 ₁ to radio communication basestation 25 _(N) in the mobile communication network 21, the radiocommunication base station 25 _(N-3) and the radio communication basestation 25 _(N-2) transmit an access request to the content server 24accepted in the Internet 22 via the first GW unit 23 ₁ and the radiocommunication base station 25 _(N-1) and the radio communication basestation 25 _(N) transmit an access request to the content server 24accepted in the Internet 22 via the second GW unit 23 ₂.

The first GW unit 23 ₁ and the second GW unit 23 ₂ execute a protocolconversion and a like between the mobile communication network 21 andthe Internet 22, and are connected to each other via a wireless or wiredcommunication line. Also, the first GW unit 23 ₁ and the second GW unit23 ₂ manage the mobile user terminal 20 which receives content servicesfrom the content server 24 of the Internet 22 via the first GW unit 23 ₁and the second GW unit 23 ₂.

In the mobile communication system of this embodiment, when the mobileuser terminal 20 existing in the first area gives an access request tothe content server 24 accepted in the Internet 22, the mobile userterminal 20 is connected to the Internet 22 via the radio communicationbase station 25 _(N-3) and the first GW unit 23 ₁. Then, in acommunication connection state for providing content services from thecontent server 24, roaming service is executed among the radiocommunication base station 25 ₁ to radio communication base station 25_(N) as the mobile user terminal 20 moves to the second area (a movement26).

A part of the radio communication base stations 25 ₁ to 25 _(N) whichexecute the roaming service transmit the access request message 70 tothe content server 24 accepted in the Internet 22 to a predetermined GWunit 23 ₁, 23 ₂. Therefore, the mobile user terminal 20 is connected tothe second GW unit 23 ₂ via the radio communication base station 25 _(N)in accordance with the movement 26.

When the second GW unit 23 ₂ judges that access request received fromthe mobile user terminal 20 is an access request that no content serviceis received by the second GW unit 23 ₂, the second GW unit 23 ₂ inquiresto another GW unit previously set as an inquiry destination about anexistence of information necessary to keep content services which arealready provided. Then, when roaming information as informationnecessary to keep already provided content services is obtained from theGW unit which responds, it is kept to provide content services from thecontent server 24 that is an access request destination via the secondGW unit 23 ₂ using the roaming information.

With this configuration, the mobile user terminal 20, which receives thecontent services from the content server 24 accepted in the Internet 22via the first GW unit 23 ₁ located in the first area, can continuouslyreceive the content services from the content server 24 via the secondGW unit 23 ₂ located in the second area in response to the movement 26.

Now, a main part of the mobile communication system capable of carryingout roaming service among GW units will be explained.

Each of the GW units 23 ₁, 23 ₂ in this embodiment holds serviceproviding management information to carry out roaming service from oneto another.

FIG. 2 shows service providing management information held by the GWunit in this embodiment.

Service providing management information 30 includes a GWID (GateWayIDentifier) 31 for identifying each GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ and servicemanagement information 32. The service management information 32includes user terminal ID (IDentifier) 33 for identifying the mobileuser terminal 20 which receives the content services from the contentserver 24 via the GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ and service ID (IDentifier) 34 foridentifying the content services provided from the content server 24 tothe mobile user terminal 20 identified by the user terminal ID 33, sothat the user terminal ID 33 corresponds to the service ID 34.

The GWID 31 is previously given to each GW unit. Each GW unit generatesthe service management information 32 and previously holds contentservice information in which content services provided by each contentserver are set.

FIG. 3 shows the content service information held by the GW unit 23 ₁,23 ₂ in this embodiment.

In content service information 35, service IDs (IDentifiers) 34previously determined so as to be corresponded to kinds of servicesprovided by each content server 24 are stored for each content server 24accepted in the Internet 22.

When there is an access request from the mobile user terminal 20 to thecontent server 24, for example, in a case the mobile user terminal 20 isa cellular telephone, each GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ sets a telephone number ofthe cellular telephone as the user terminal ID 33, selects a service IDcorresponding to a service of the access request while referring to thecontent service information 35 and generates the service managementinformation 32. Also, the service management information 32 of themobile user terminal 20 for which a predetermined communicationfinishing process is executed is deleted suitably.

Each GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ holding the service providing managementinformation 30, when there is an access request from the mobile userterminal 20 to the content server 24 accepted in the Internet 22 via themobile communication network 21, searches the service managementinformation 32. When service management information 32 of a same servicerequired by the mobile user terminal 20 is already registered inaccordance with the user terminal ID 33 of the mobile user terminal 20,the GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ executes the access request to the content server24 via the Internet 22. On the other hand, as a result of researchingthe service management information 32, when the mobile user terminal 20which issues the access request is not registered, the GW unit 23 ₁, 23₂ inquires to another GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ of an existence of informationnecessary to keep the already provided content services using the GWID31 and the user terminal ID 33. When the user terminal ID 33 added tothis inquiry is registered in the service management information 32managed by another GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂, corresponding service managementinformation 32 is returned together with the roaming informationnecessary for maintaining to provide the content services. Then, thecontent services are continuously provided to the mobile user terminal20 issuing the access request using the received service managementinformation 32 and the received roaming information.

Therefore, each of the first GW unit 23 ₁ and the second GW unit 23 ₂ isprovided with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) not shown and executesabove-described control in accordance with control programs stored in astorage unit such as a ROM (Read Only Memory).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an inquiry process for carrying outroaming service in each GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂.

First, each GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ monitors an access request from a mobileuser terminal 20 to a content server 24 accepted in the Internet 22 viathe mobile communication network 21 (Step S40: N). When the accessrequest is detected (Step S40: Y), the service management information 32(shown in FIG. 2) held by each GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ is searched using theuser terminal ID 33 such as the telephone number previously given to themobile user terminal 20 issuing the access request (Step S41).

As a searched result, when the user terminal ID 33 of the mobile userterminal 20 issuing the access request is already registered in theservice management information 32 (Step S42: Y), it is judged whether aservice requested by the mobile user terminal 20 is similar to a serviceregistered in accordance with the user terminal ID 33 in the servicemanagement information 32 or not (Step S43).

When it is judged that the service requested by the mobile user terminalis not similar to the service registered in accordance with the userterminal ID 33 in the service management information 32 (Step S43: N),the content service information shown in FIG. 3 is referred and theservice ID 34 registered in the service management information 32 inaccordance with the mobile user terminal 20 is updated to a service ID34 corresponding to a requested service (Step S44).

When the service ID 34 in the service management information 32 isupdated in Step S44 or when it is judged that the service requested bythe mobile user terminal 20 is similar to the service registered in theservice management information 32 in Step S43 (Step S43: N), a servicerequest message is transmitted to the content server 24 which is arequested destination via the Internet 22 (Step S45). The servicerequest message includes the GWID 31 previously given to the GW unit 23₁, 23 ₂ and the service management information 32 updated in Step S44and including the user terminal ID 33 for identifying the mobile userterminal 20 issuing the access request and the service ID 34 foridentifying the service.

Then, the GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ monitors reception of content datacorresponding to a content service provided from the content server 24which is the requested destination (Step S46: N). When the content datais received (Step S46: Y), the content data is transmitted to the mobileuser terminal 20 issuing the access request (Step S47) and a series ofprocesses is finished (End).

On the other hand, when the user terminal ID 33 of the mobile userterminal 20 issuing the access request is not yet registered in theservice management information 32 (Step S42: N), an inquiry messageincluding the GWID 31 previously given to the GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ and theuser terminal ID 33 for identifying the mobile user terminal 20 issuingthe access request is transmitted to another GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂previously set as an inquiry destination (Step S48). Then, when aresponse corresponding to the inquiry message transmitted in Step S48 isreceived from another GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ in a predetermined time-outperiod (Step S49: Y), roaming information is received from a respondingGW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ (Step S50). The roaming information includes the GWID31 of the responding GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂, the user terminal ID 33 and theservice ID 34 together with work information which is temporarily storedand which is necessary to provide the content service via the respondingGW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂. The GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ receiving the roaminginformation registers the user terminal ID 33 and the service ID 34included in the roaming information as the service managementinformation 32 of the GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ (Step S51).

Then, the service request message which is registered in Step S51 andwhich is the service management information 32 including the userterminal 33 ID for identifying the mobile user terminal 20 issuing theaccess request and the service ID 34 for identifying the requestedservice is transmitted to the content server 24 which is a requesteddestination via the Internet 22 together with the GWID 31 of the GW unit23 ₁, 23 ₂ (Step S45).

Then, the GW unit23 ₁, 23 ₂ monitors reception of content datacorresponding to a content service provided from the content server 24which is the requested destination (Step S46: N). When the content datais received (Step S46: Y), the content data is transmitted to the mobileuser terminal 20 issuing the access request (Step S47) and a series ofprocesses is finished (End).

Also, when no response corresponding to the inquiry message transmittedin Step S48 is received from another GW unit23 ₁, 23 ₂ in apredetermined time-out period (Step S49: N), it is judged that no userterminal ID 33 of the mobile user terminal 20 issuing the access requestis registered in another GW unit23 ₁, 23 ₂ which is previously set as aninquiry destination, and a user terminal ID 33 of the mobile userterminal 20 issuing the access request and a service ID 34 correspondingto the requested service are newly registered in the service managementinformation 32 so as to be corresponded (Step S52).

Then, the service request message which is registered in Step S52 andwhich is the service management information 32 including the userterminal ID 33 for identifying the mobile user terminal 20 issuing theaccess request and the service ID 34 for identifying the requestedservice is transmitted to the content server 24 which is a requesteddestination via the Internet 22 together with the GWID 31 of the GW unit23 ₁, 23 ₂ (Step S45).

Then, the GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ monitors reception of content datacorresponding to a content service provided from the content server 24which is the requested destination (Step S46: N). When the content datais received (Step S46: Y), the content data is transmitted to the mobileuser terminal 20 issuing the access request (Step S47) and a series ofprocesses is finished (End).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processes of the GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ whenthere is an inquiry from a GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ issuing an access request.In other words, when there is an inquiry whether a user terminal ID 33receiving an access request from another GW unit23 ₁, 23 ₂ is registeredin the service management information 32 of the GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ (StepS60: Y), the service management information 32 of the GW unit23 ₁, 23 ₂is searched using the user terminal ID 33 (Step S61). When the userterminal ID 33 as the search key is registered in the service managementinformation 32 (Step S62: Y), the GWID 31 of the GW unit23 ₁, 23 ₂ andthe roaming information including the user terminal ID 33 and theservice ID 34 are transmitted to the GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ issuing theinquiry together with the working information temporally stored whilethe content server 24 provides the content service in the GW unit 23 ₁,23 ₂ (Step S63) and a series of processes is finished (End).

Also, when there is no inquiry from another GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ in Step60 (Step S60: N), or when no user terminal ID 33 as the search key isstored in the service management information 32 in Step S62 (Step S62:N), there is no response and a series of processes is finished (End).

Next, an operation of the mobile communication system will be concretelyexplained with reference to FIG. 6. Here, explanations will be given ofa case in that the mobile user terminal 20 in the first area issues anaccess request to the content server 24 accepted in the Internet 22 viathe radio communication base station 25 _(N-3) and the first GW unit 23₁ and the mobile user terminal 20 moves (movement 26) to the second areain a communication connection state in which the content service isreceived from the content server 24.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation of the mobile communicationsystem. An access request message 70 to the content server 24transmitted by the mobile user terminal 20 in the first area so as toreceive the content service is transmitted to the mobile communicationnetwork 21. In the mobile communication network 21, the access requestmessage 70 is transmitted to the first GW unit 23 ₁ via the radiocommunication base station 25 _(N-1) which is predetermined so that theaccess request message 70 is transferred to the first GW unit 23 ₁ amongthe plurality of radio communication base stations 25 ₁ to 25 _(N) whenthere is an access request to the Internet 22.

The first GW unit 23 ₁ searches the service management information 32using the user terminal ID 33 of the mobile user terminal 20 such as thetelephone number shown in FIG. 4 as a search key. When it is assumedthat the user terminal ID 33 is registered in the service managementinformation 32, a service request message 71 including the user terminalID 33 capable of identifying the mobile user terminal 20 and the serviceID 34 capable of identifying a requested service is transmitted to thecontent server 24 providing the requested service together with the userterminal ID 33 capable of identifying the mobile user terminal 20.

The content server 24 picks up content data corresponding to therequested service identified by the service ID 34 and transmittedcontent data to the first GW unit 23 ₁ as a service response 72.

When the first GW unit 23 ₁ receives the content data corresponding tothe requested service as the service response 72, the first GW unit 23 ₁transmits the content data to the mobile user terminal 20 issuing theaccess request message 70 via the mobile communication network 21 as anaccess response 73. With this operation, the mobile user terminal 20becomes a service connection state 74 to a service provided by thecontent server 24.

In the service connection state 74, when the mobile user terminal 20 inthe first area moves to the second area by the movement 26, the roamingservice is executed among the radio communication base station 25 ₁ toradio communication base station 25 _(N) in the mobile communicationnetwork 21. With this operation, the mobile user terminal 20 continuesthe communication connection state. As described above, a part of theradio communication base stations 25 ₁ to 25 _(N) which execute theroaming service transmit the access request message 70 to the contentserver 24 accepted in the Internet 22 to a predetermined GW unit 23 ₁,23 ₂. With the movement 26, the mobile user terminal 20 is connected tothe second GW 23 ₂, for example, via the radio communication basestation 25 _(N), and an access request message 75 from the mobile userterminal 20 is transmitted to the second GW unit 23 ₂ in the secondarea.

The second GW unit 23 ₂, as shown in FIG. 4, searches the servicemanagement information 32 using the user terminal ID 33 of the mobileuser terminal 20 such as the telephone number as the search key. Here,the user terminal ID 33 is not registered in the service managementinformation 32, and therefore, an inquiry message 76 including the GWID31 given to the second GW unit 23 ₂ and the user terminal ID 33 capableof identifying the mobile user terminal 20 is transmitted to the firstGW unit 23 ₁ set as an inquiry destination.

The first GW unit 23 ₁ receiving the inquiry message 76 searches theservice management information 32 using the user terminal ID 33 of theuser terminal ID 33 included in the inquiry message from the second GWunit 23 ₂ as the search key. In the first GW unit 23 ₁, the servicemanagement information 32 of the mobile user terminal 20 is alreadyregistered, roaming information 77 including the GWID 31 of the first GWunit 23 ₁, the user terminal Id 33 and the service ID 34 is transmittedto the second GW unit 23 ₂ together with working information temporallystored in the first GW unit 23 ₁ so that the content server 24 acceptedin the Internet 22 provides content services.

When the second GW unit 23 ₂ receives the roaming information from thefirst GW unit 23 ₁, the user terminal ID 33 of the mobile user terminal20 and the service ID 34 included in the roaming information 77 areregistered in the service management information 32 of the second GWunit 23 ₂. Then, a service request 78 which is the service managementinformation 32 including the user terminal ID 33 capable of identifyingthe mobile user terminal 20 and the service ID 34 capable of identifyingthe requested service is transmitted to the content server 24 providingthe requested service together with the GWID 31 capable of identifyingthe second GW unit 23 ₂.

The content server 24 picks up content data corresponding to therequested service identified by the service ID 34 and transmits thecontent data to the second GW unit 23 ₂ as a service response 79.

When the second GW unit 23 ₂ receives the content data corresponding tothe requested service as the service response 79, the second GW unit 23₂ transfers the content data to the mobile user terminal 20 issuing theaccess request via the mobile communication network 21 as an accessresponse 80. With this operation, the mobile user terminal 20 becomes ina service connection state 81 to service provided by the content server24.

As described above, the mobile communication system according to theembodiment, the mobile user terminal 20 connected to the mobilecommunication network 21 having a wide mobile communication service areareceives content services from the content server 24 accepted in theInternet 22 via GW units 23 ₁, 23 ₂ located in predetermined areas.Among the plurality of radio communication base station 25 ₁ to radiocommunication base station 25 _(N) of the mobile communication network21, concerning a part of radio communication base stations 25 ₁ to 25_(N), the access request to the content server 24 accepted in theInternet 22 is transmitted to a predetermined GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂. Whenthe mobile user terminal 20 moves from the first area to the second areaby the movement 26, the roaming service is executed among radiocommunication base stations25 ₁ to 25 _(N) in the mobile communicationnetwork 21, a part of radio communication base stations 25 ₁ to 25 _(N)is connected to the predetermined second GW unit 23 ₂ and access requestmessage 70 to the content server 24 is transmitted. When the second GWunit 23 ₂ recognizes that an access request is transmitted from a mobileuser terminal 20 not managed by the second GW unit 23 ₂, the second GWunit 23 ₂ inquires another GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ and executes roamingservice among GW units 23 ₁, 23 ₂ which respond, and thereby contentservice is continuously provided to the moving mobile user terminal 20.With this operation, though the mobile user terminal 20 moves betweentwo places at a long distance, roaming service is executed among GWunits23 ₁, 23 ₂ located respective areas. Therefore, it is possible toreceive the content services continuously and it is possible to improvesystem efficiency and provide stable services. Further, the roamingservice is executed for a geographically nearest GW unit 23 ₁, 23 ₂ tothe mobile user terminal 20, therefore, though the mobile user terminal20 moves between two places at a very long distance, it is possible toreceive services efficiently concerning a service quality and billing.

It is thus apparent that the present invention is not limited to theabove embodiments but may be changed and modified without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the invention.

In the mobile communication system of the embodiment, the GW unit holdsthe service management information and content services are continuouslyprovided to a moving mobile user terminal, however, the presentinvention is not limited to the embodiment.

For example, a mobile communication system may continuously providecontent services to a moving mobile user terminal.

This mobile communication system is approximately similar to the mobilecommunication system shown in FIG. 1, however, the first GW unit and thesecond GW unit use respective content servers and no roaming service isexecuted.

That is, each content server holds each service providing managementinformation including a user terminal ID and a service ID capable ofidentifying a service for each mobile user terminal providing contentservices.

When there is an access request from the mobile user terminal to thecontent server via the mobile communication network, the access requestis transmitted to the content server as an access request messageincluding the GWID capable of identifying each GW unit and the userterminal ID of each GW unit. The content server refers to the serviceproviding management information, picks up content data of the serviceID memorized so as to be corresponded to the user terminal ID, andtransmits the content data to the GW unit identified by the GWIDincluded in the received access request message. The GW unit transfersthe content data received from the content server as a response of theaccess request message transmitted from the GW unit to the mobile userterminal issuing the access request.

As described above, in this mobile communication system, each terminalproviding content services with the content server holds the serviceproviding management information including the user terminal ID and theservice ID capable of identifying a service, and content data istransmitted to the GW unit identified by the GWID included in the accessrequest message. With this operation, it is unnecessary to providecommunication lines for receiving and transmitting the roaminginformation among GW units, and therefore, it is possible to reduceinfrastructure cost.

Further, the user management information includes the user terminal IDand the service ID, however, the present invention is not limited tothis. For example, the service management information may include GWID,a user terminal ID and a service ID.

1. A mobile communication system comprising: a content server forproviding content data requested via a network; a mobile communicationterminal for issuing a request to provide said content data via a mobilecommunication network; and a plurality of gateway units locatedrespectively in predetermined areas, for executing protocol conversionof said request and said content data transmitted between said networkand said mobile communication network and for continuously providingsaid content data from said content server to said mobile communicationterminal by transmitting and receiving communication information toprovide said content data, wherein each of said plurality of gatewayunits comprises: a service management information storing section forstoring service management information including at least identificationinformation of said content data so as to correspond to identificationinformation of said mobile communication terminal to which said contentdata is provided via each of said plurality of gateway units; an inquirysection, when said request is received from said mobile communicationterminal, for inquiring of each of other gateway units whether saididentification information of said mobile communication terminal isregistered in said service management information storing section usingsaid identification information as a search key; a search section forsearching said service management information in response to an inquiryfrom said inquiry section of an arbitrary one of other gateway units; acommunication information transmitting section, when said identificationinformation of said mobile communication terminal is searched by saidsearch section, for transmitting communication information used toprovide said content data to said identification information of saidmobile communication terminal to said gateway unit which has issued saidinquiry; a content request section for requesting said content server toprovide said content data corresponding to said request based on saidcommunication information transmitted by said communication informationtransmitting section of each of said other gateway units in accordancewith said inquiry from said inquiry section; and a content transferringsection for transferring said content data from said content server,said content data requested by said content request section to saidmobile communication terminal.
 2. The mobile communication systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said mobile communication terminal is acellular telephone and said identification information of said mobilecommunication terminal is a telephone number.
 3. A mobile communicationmethod in a mobile communication system including a content server forproviding content data requested via a network; a mobile communicationterminal for issuing a request to provide said content data via a mobilecommunication network; and a plurality of gateway units locatedrespectively in predetermined areas, for executing protocol conversionof said request and said content data transmitted between said networkand said mobile communication network and for continuously providingsaid content data from said content server to said mobile communicationterminal by transmitting and receiving communication information toprovide said content data, said mobile communication method comprising:a service management information storing step of storing servicemanagement information including identification information of saidcontent data so as to correspond to identification information of saidmobile communication terminal to which said content data is provided viaeach of said plurality of gateway units, said service managementinformation is registered in a service management information storingsection; an inquiry step, when said request is received from said mobilecommunication terminal, of inquiring of each of other gateway unitswhether said identification information of said mobile communicationterminal is registered in said service management information storingsection using said identification information as a search key; a searchstep of searching service management information of said each of saidplurality of gateway units in response to an inquiry from an arbitraryone of other gateway units; a communication information transmittingstep, when said identification information of said mobile communicationterminal is searched by said search step, of transmitting communicationinformation used to provide said content data to said identificationinformation of said mobile communication terminal to said gateway unitissuing said inquiry; a content request step of requesting said contentserver to provide said content data corresponding to said request basedon said communication information transmitted by said communicationinformation transmitting step in each of said other gateway units inaccordance with said inquiry; and a content transferring step oftransferring the requested content data from said content server to saidmobile communication terminal.
 4. A mobile communication program used ina mobile communication system including a content server for providingcontent data requested via a network; a mobile communication terminalfor issuing a request to provide said content data via a mobilecommunication network; and a plurality of gateway units locatedrespectively in predetermined areas, for executing protocol conversionof said request and said content data transmitted between said networkand said mobile communication network and for continuously providingsaid content data from said content server to said mobile communicationterminal by transmitting and receiving communication information toprovide said content data, said mobile communication program comprising:a service management information storing step of storing servicemanagement information including identification information of saidcontent data so as to correspond to identification information of saidmobile communication terminal to which said content data is provided viaeach of said plurality of gateway units, said service managementinformation is registered in a service management information storingsection; an inquiry step, when said request is received from said mobilecommunication terminal, of inquiring of each of other gateway unitswhether said identification information of said mobile communicationterminal is registered in said service management information storingsection using said identification information as a search key; a searchstep of searching service management information of said each of saidplurality of gateway units in response to an inquiry from an arbitraryone of other gateway units; a communication information transmittingstep, when said identification information of said mobile communicationterminal is searched by said search step, of transmitting communicationinformation used to provide said content data to said identificationinformation of said mobile communication terminal to said gateway unitissuing said inquiry; a content request step of requesting said contentserver to provide aid content data corresponding to said request basedon said communication information transmitted by said communicationinformation transmitting step in each of said other gateway units inaccordance with said inquiry of said inquiry section; and a contenttransferring step of transferring the requested content data from saidcontent server to said mobile communication terminal.